NEW YORK CITY—Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch announced the security measures for this year’s Times Square ball drop at a briefing outside the NYPD Times Square Substation on Dec. 30. The measures included increased drone use, street blocking, and a ban on bringing backpacks or coolers into the event area.
Here are the most important things for people planning to witness the ball drop, according to Tisch:
Once you have left the event area, there is no re-entry. The boundaries run from 39th Street to 57th Street and from Fifth Avenue to Ninth Avenue, well beyond Times Square itself.
At 3 p.m., pedestrians can start to enter the area at 49th, 52nd, and 56th Streets from both Sixth and Eighth Avenues.
Counterterrorism units will screen people at the entry points. Backpacks, large bags, coolers, alcohol, chairs, and umbrellas are not permitted in the area.
“Some weather forecasts call for scattered showers at this time. So check the weather and plan accordingly.” Tisch said. “More information about street closures, pedestrian entrances, and prohibited items will be available on all NYPD social media channels.
“The public can expect to see a tremendous amount of police resources deployed throughout the area and across the city.”
Both plain-clothes and uniformed officers will be deployed. Emergency service units will be stationed on rooftops. Canine teams will patrol with bomb-sniffing dogs. The aviation team will pay special attention to bridges and landmarks. Dedicated pickpocket squads will disperse through the crowds. Special response teams will patrol hotel areas. Drone teams will be deployed to watch for suspicious or unusual activity.
It’s a tradition to have new NYPD recruits help police the event. This year, over 600 police cadets will graduate in early January, and they will patrol the event.
The number of drone teams has increased to 10 this year compared with last year’s four. NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry stated that drones worked well last year.
“And as always, there will be plenty of security measures that you will not see,” Tisch said.
There will be a frozen zone in which all manholes, mailboxes, vending machines, and litter baskets will be either sealed or removed. Roads will be blocked off with concrete barriers and blocker cars.
The NYPD has taken international events into consideration when planning security. Citing the recent attack at a Christmas market in Germany, Tisch said they have also been operating with heightened awareness since last year’s Oct. 7 attack on Israel.
Adams said that increased security is important because tourism is a huge industry in NYC.
“[Tourists] do something that I think is important. They spend a lot of money, and I’m going to encourage them to continue to do so.”
The mayor assured that the police are prepared to respond quickly to any dangerous situation.
From The Epoch Times